From the Azores to Zimbabwe, News Highlights cover the key events in terrorism and political violence that occurred last week. And in the final run-up to a war against Iraq, the Feature Article examines the aftermath of a prior action, in "Serbia" A Study of Regime Change and Democracy".

CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Narco-terrorism
13. Transportation
14. Weapons of Mass Destruction
15. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Serbia: A Study of Regime Change and Democracy

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

1. World

An emergency bulletin has been issued by the World Health Organization regarding a contagious form of atypical pneumonia called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Although a bacterial cause for this disease has been ruled out, its cause remains unknown and only palliative treatment is available. Travel precautions, particularly air travel, to pay attention to the spread of this disease are advised.

After a week of fevered diplomacy, a meeting of the US, UK and Spanish leaders held in the Azores led to an ultimatum that a final decision would be made regarding Iraq in the next 24 hours. Short of Saddam Hussein's sudden disappearance, it appears there will be a war immediately thereafter.

In North Korea, where the humanitarian situation has reached desperate lows, tensions continue to mount as the US deploys an aircraft carrier and prepares for military exercises with the South, while North Korea continues missile tests and progresses with its nuclear program. The US continues to reject direct negotiations, despite calls from China and other countries in the region.

2. Africa

The US State Department and British Foreign Office issued travel warnings regarding increased risk of terrorist attacks because of the crisis over Iraq. In particular, they warn f travel to Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as other areas in East Africa.

Africa continues to suffer the impact of drought, poor harvest, and conflict that have drastically reduced food supplies. Immediate aid is required for Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the western Sahel.

Central African Republic is under rebel control now following a coup while President Ange-Felix Patasse, elected in 1993, was returning from an African summit meeting. He has taken refuge in Cameroon.

In Congo, Ebola has now killed at least a hundred people and most of the gorillas in the Lossi part of Cuvette-Ouest. It is feared that the outbreak may spread to Gabon.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, peace negotiations have concluded and will be formally ended with a ceremony on March 24-5. It can only be hoped that the peace will last until then, since there has been renewed fighting in the northeast as Ugandan and Rwandan troops are apparently still involved in defending its use of DR oil, gold and diamonds.

The UN border ruling demarcating Ethiopia and Eritrea is being tested again as Ethiopia wants to make further changes to the border to ensure it will retain control of the town of Badme that had sparked the 2.5 year war between the two countries.

Ivory Coast has a new Prime Minister, Seydou Diarra, in the first of a number of changes in the government that are being made as part of a power-sharing deal under their peace agreement. Actually gaining collaboration between the opposing parties, ensuring security, and beginning the task of rebuilding may prove to be challenges too great for the shaky agreement to survive.

Kenya's new government has discovered a deficit more than double what the outgoing regime had stated. Discovering some 4,000 retired, dead or imaginary staff on the Nairobi payroll may help ease the shortfall, but international aid is still needed. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2835769.stm) Investigations in other possible scams and corruption continue.

Libya will take some responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing of 1988 and pay compensation to families of the victims.

In Nigeria, anti-corruption efforts have been dealt a setback as the parliament has voted to repeal the law that established the anti-corruption commission. Political violence in Nigeria has continued in the run up to next month's presidential election. A gang of four attacked a candidate's convoy with machetes by a gang of four. Elsewhere, thirty villagers were killed.

Despite peace agreements in Somalia, fighting continues in Baidoa and Mogadishu.

South African police continued their raids against white extremists, arresting one for possession of explosives.

Uganda's government announced a temporary truce to hold peace talks with rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army but (again) the talks failed to take place.

Zimbabwe's political and economic situations continue to deteriorate. For the first time, South African Home Affairs Minister Buthelezi has spoken out against the situation, and asked for Zimbabwe to act to avert economic collapse that could lead to a flood of refugees. The Commonwealth has also announced that Zimbabwe's suspension will be extended to the end of the year.

3. Americas

After an Argentine judge issued arrest warrants against four Iranians charged with involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center that killed 85, Iran withdrew its Charge d'Affaires. The attack was the worst terrorist incident in Argentina's history. Interpol is reviewing Argentina's request for assistance in the arrests.

In Brazil, the Landless Movement has stepped up its land seizures, taking over farms in five areas, to apply pressure for reform.

The US was preoccupied with plans for the war in Iraq, demonstrating its arsenal of new weapons including a massive new bomb that weighs more than ten tons. Domestically, the Department of Homeland Security began organizing its first grants to local authorities and warned of expected suicide attacks. CIA veteran John O. Brennan has been named director of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center.

The US Congress, notably absent in international diplomatic efforts, was further marginalized by the activities of certain representatives that ranged from removal of the word "French" from congressional menus, to a claim that US foreign policy toward Iraq was driven by the interests of the US Jewish community. The former is still in force; the latter elicited an apology.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for Colombian rebel groups not to interfere in Venezuela. Meanwhile, strike leader Carlos Ortega has been granted political asylum in Costa Rica.

4. Asia Pacific

Australia has announced that the notorious Woomera detention center will be closed and the asylum seekers moved to a new center.

Cambodia and the UN have reached agreement on terms for a proposed genocide court.

China's annual National People's Congress heard a call to crack down further against separatists, terrorists, and cults, to improve national security.

Indonesia's continuing investigation of the Bali bombing has uncovered alleged links to the Jakarta embassy bombing in 2000. In the Papua province, it has been found that US mining company, Freeport McMoran, paid for military protection.

Japan has said they have no plans to extradite Alberto Fujimori, former president of Peru, back to Peru on murder, kidnapping and embezzlement charges.

In the Philippines, an arrest order for leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been issued in connection with the airport bombing. Army air strikes in the area have killed at least 16 MILF separatists.

5. Europe

Negotiations for a united Cyprus have failed given fundamental objections on the part of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders regarding a proposed referendum and further demands for more concessions.

French authorities are reconsidering their approach to prison security following another jailbreak, this time using rocket launchers to free a notorious gangster.

Liechtenstein has voted to give Crown Prince Hans-Adam II absolute power. He had threatened to move to Austria if not granted the additional powers.

Malta has voted to become part of the European Union.

Russia has reorganized its federal security service to incorporate the border guards, tax police, and communications agency, and to add a new anti-narcotics committee.

Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was shot dead by snipers in Belgrade. A state of emergency was immediately declared, and a massive hunt for the killers is underway, in which some 70 suspects have been detained. Organized crime gang the Zemun Clan, are believed responsible.

Turkey's constitutional court has banned the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) for alleged links with the banned Kurdistan Worker's party (PKK). Founder of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, may be given a new trial following a ruling by the European court of human rights ruled that his original trial was unfair.

In the Ukraine, massive demonstrations against President Kuchma attracted tens of thousands protesting his alleged corruption, abuse of office, arms deals, murder, and so on.

In Northern Ireland, dissident republicans of the Real IRA claimed credit for a large firebomb left at Belfast's courthouse. It was found and made safe before exploding.

In continued discussions over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that occurred over Scotland, it appears that Libya will take some responsibility for the attack and will pay compensation to families of the victims.

6. Middle East

Tensions across the Middle East are high as the region faces impending war in Iraq. As part of US efforts to quell discontent, President Bush announced that the Middle East "Roadmap" for peace would be adopted following approval of a Palestinian Prime Minister. However, he suggested that the document is open for further negotiation, a policy at odds with the other members of the quartet (EU, UN, Russia) that regard the document as requiring immediate action and concessions from both Israel and the Palestinians.

In Gaza, Israeli troops pulled out of the security zone they had imposed at the weekend following their incursions. An internal IDF investigation suggested that the incident, in which a fireman and other civilians were killed, was the result of a Palestinian bomb inside the factory, not just a tank shell. The UN has protested an assault against another school in Gaza. Two Palestinian militants carrying pipe bombs outside a settlement were killed.

Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, and the US has expressed concern that its weapons program (not found by weapons inspectors) is further along than thought. Iranians denied developing nuclear weapons but claim they have a right to do so, to counter Israel's cache.

Israel has increased security for government officials following last week's killing of Hamas leaders last week, including Ibrahim al-Maqadma. Hamas has vowed revenge.

In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian parliament has approved Mahmoud Abbas as the new Prime Minister, though the post has been given only limited powers. This limited political effort had no impact on the level of violence. On Monday, Palestinian militants ambushed an Israeli army patrol, killing one. The apartment building from which some of the shots were fired was demolished, killing one Palestinian gunman inside. During the week, IDF operations continued in several villages, arresting numerous suspects. In gun battles and raids on Thursday and Friday morning, ten suspected militants were killed. On Thursday, two Israelis were killed accidentally by their army when they were mistaken for Palestinians. On Sunday, a US peace activist was crushed beneath a bulldozer.

7. South Asia

Afghanistan President Karzai is developing a massive disarmament program to deal with the threats to peace posed by the regional warlords and armed factions. The plan, indeed all of Afghanistan's security, including much needed police training, is dependent on foreign aid that has been slow in coming.

In Bangladesh, nearly 200 people were detained in connection with the bomb attack in Khulna. Five suspected Islamist militants associated with Jamaat ul Majahadeen were arrested.

In Bombay, India, a bomb exploded on a commuter train, killing 11 and injuring 75. The next day, police defused six bombs at a train station in Delhi. Responsibility for the two incidents is unknown.

Another bus bomb exploded on a bus in the northeast state of Assam, killing at least 11 and injuring 40. Separatists are suspected in this attack.

Archaeologists have begun excavating the disputed religious site of Ayodhya, in the northern Indian state of Gujarat.

Indian-administered Kashmir also experienced a bombing in a passenger bus. It killed four and injured 20. The next day suspected Islamic militants attacked a market and a hotel, shooting and throwing grenades. Six were killed and 15 injured. Two militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad died in a gun battle and three others in a separate incident in fighting with the army. On Sunday at least nine police and two civilians were killed in an ambush. Apparently Islamic militants with Jamiat-ul-Mujahadeen and Harkat-i-Jehadi Islami carried out the attack.

Nepal's Maoist rebels have attended a political meeting and discussed possible peace talks. The rebels and the government have agreed on a code of conduct. The rebels have also suggested that the future of the monarchy be up to the people; its removal no longer a principal aim.

The Sri Lankan navy sank a Tamil Tiger ship, killing all 11 crew, in the most serious incident since the ceasefire was signed a year ago. The Tigers have called for restraint, even while tens of thousands of demonstrators were marching in Colombo demonstrating against the peace process.

8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

Following the computer break-in and theft of 55,200 identities at the University of Texas, the university set up an information site at http://www.utexas.edu/datatheft/. The perpetrator has since turned himself in to authorities.

A recurring problem is reported by Bob Sullivan in "The darkest side of ID theft" http://www.msnbc.com/news/877978.asp?cp1=1#BODY

The use of electronic surveillance in the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is described by Oliver Burkeman and Zaffar Abbas, "How mobile phones and an GBP18 million bribe trapped 9/11 mastermind" http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,911757,00.html. Following this, unregistered Swiss prepaid cell phones will be a thing of the past as they plan to now require registration before use.

A panel of experts at the CeBIT meeting in Hanover agreed that threats of cyberterrorism has been exaggerated, particularly by the US government, and that it was more important to tackle traditional criminal activities.

A variant of the Yaha worm written by the Indian Snakes has been targeted against Pakistani websites, as reported by anti-virus firm Sophos.

9. Finance

The European Union's fraud office investigated the use of funds granted to the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, now called the Community Foundation. They found inadequate supervision of the monies and have asked for their return. Links with the Progressive Unionist Party, loyalist paramilitaries, and the discovery of weapons in a nearby office, have contributed to the belief that use of funds contravened the intended use of the grant.

Enrique Cerda Ibanez and Ahmed Ruksar have been arrested in Spain and charged with sending money to al Qaeda, including the funding of the Tunisian synagogue attack.

Saddam Hussein has continued to pay the families of Palestinian suicide bombers ($25,000/family) and those killed by Israeli attacks ($10,000/family).

10. Human Rights

The International Criminal Court with its 18 judges has been formally inaugurated. (The US boycotted the ceremony.)

A US federal appeals court panel ruled that the US has no jurisdiction over Guantanamo Bay, that is leased from Cuba, and therefore detainees at Guantanamo had no recourse to US courts. The agreement with Cuba, first signed in 1903, provides rights to use Guantanamo in perpetuity as long as there is a naval base, but gives sovereignty to Cuba. This ruling has been called a "dangerous precedent" and "unprecedented in US legal history" by lawyers and human rights advocates alike.

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and members of their Families has been ratified and will enter into force on July 1.

The International Organization for Migration is undertaking a new effort to end child slavery in Ghana. See Emma Jane Kirby, "Bid to end Ghana child trafficking" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/2837849.stm and Humphrey Hawksley "Ghana's trapped slaves" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/1158115.stm

Sierra Leone has welcomed indictments by its war crimes tribunal against senior officials and rebel leaders. Sierra Leone's tribunal operates inside the country.

12,000 Somali Bantu refugees enslaved for centuries have been recognized as a persecuted group and will be resettled in the US.

11. Law and Legal Issues

Abdul Wahab Jameel Afghani has been taken into custody in Pakistan in connection with anti-Shia attacks against a bakery and religious center that killed two. He has admitted membership in Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Aeroubi Beandalis, Fouhad Sabour, Salim Boukari and Lamine Maroni were convicted of plotting to bomb the Strasbourg Christmas market in December 2000. They have been jailed for between 10 and 12 years.

Sami Omar al-Hussayen, arrested in connection with alleged ties to terrorist groups in Saudi Arabia, has been placed under house arrest on 11 counts of visa fraud.

Enrique Cerda Ibanez and Ahmed Ruksar have been arrested in Spain and charged with sending money to al Qaeda, including the funding of the Tunisian synagogue attack.

Yasir al-Jazeeri has been arrested in Pakistan, suspected of being a leading member of al Qaeda.

Brigadier General Noer Moeis has been sentenced by Indonesian court to five years in jail for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor in 1999/

Sam Hinga Norman (former Minister of Internal Affairs); Foday Sankoh, Issa Sesay and Morris Kallon of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone, have been indicted on war crimes charges and will be tried in the Sierra Leone war crimes tribunal. Sam Bockarie and Johnny Paul Koromah were also indicted but are not in custody.

Abdullah Ocalan may be given a new trial following a ruling by the European court of human rights ruled that his original trial was unfair.

Carlos Ortega, Venezuelan strike leader wanted on charges of rebellion and incitement, has been granted political asylum in Costa Rica.

Jose Padilla, accused "dirty bomber", will be allowed legal counsel. A US citizen, he was arrested at an airport last year and after a brief detention was designated an enemy combatant. The government will determine whether to appeal.

Christopher Andrew Phillips has been arrested in Texas, US, after breaking into a University of Texas database and stealing more than 55,000 identities. He turned himself in and has been charged with unauthorized access and using false identity.

12. Narco-terrorism

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has increased their efforts to counter narcotics trafficking in the Balkans. They are using intelligence-based policing to disrupt the operations of criminal organizations.

Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra says that drug lords are threatening his life in response to the drug crackdown.

Accused drug lord Osiel Cardenas of the Gulf cartel has been arrested in Mexico. He also faces US charges for smuggling and money laundering.

Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, former head of the notorious Cali drug cartel, has been arrested for smuggling cocaine in 1995. This charge came about after he was released early last year for good behavior.

13. Transportation

A new Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS II) will be developed by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the threat of everyone making a reservation and then color code passengers based on the level of threat. A number of questions have been raised regarding accuracy of public data, privacy protection, and so on. The government has refused to disclose details on what databases will be used or how a risk level will be determined. Although this will only be used for air passengers, it is similar to the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program and, like TIA, would need accountability and other safeguards.

Kenya has put its security services on high alert to protect their ports, including both cruise and cargo ships.

14. Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Nuclear Threat Initiative has released a report issued by Harvard University called "Controlling Nuclear Warheads and Materials". They point out the risks, "The possibility that nuclear weapons or the materials needed to make them could be stolen and fall into the hands of terrorists or hostile states poses among the most urgent threats to U.S. and international security. Immediate action is needed to forestall this danger, through a global cooperative effort to ensure that every nuclear weapon and every kilogram of nuclear material is secure and accounted for, wherever they may be." And if we can safeguard the materials, there is a big benefit. "Fortunately, a nuclear bomb cannot be made without nuclear material, and making such material is beyond the reach of terrorists. Hence, if all of the existing stockpiles can be effectively guarded, nuclear weapons terrorism can be prevented: no material, no bomb." http://www.nti.org/e_research/cnwm/overview/cnwm_home.asp

The International Atomic Energy Agency has also called for urgent action to control sources of radioactive materials. http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Press/P_release/2003/prn0303.shtml

Responding to reports that the US government may be interested in building deep earth nuclear devices, David Hambling writes "Deep Impact: How do you destroy enemy weapons stored in underground bunkers? The Pentagon wants to develop new nuclear warheads to do the job. Surely there has to be a better way." in New Scientist, March 8, 2003.

15. Recently Published

Sharon Begley, "Why We Sometimes Get Tofu for President When We Want Beef" The Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2003

Francois Bizot. "The Gate" Knopf (about the Khmer Rouge)
Seymour Hersh, "Lunch with the Chairman: Why was Richard Perle meeting with Adnan Khashoggi?", The New Yorker, March 17, 2003.

Eric Lichtblau, Adam Liptak "On Terror, Spying and Guns, Ashcroft Expands Reach" The New York Times, March 15, 2003.

Marion Nestle. "Safe Food: Bacteria, Biotechnology and Bioterrorism" University of California Press.

Kenneth M. Pollack. "The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq" Random House. New York Review Books

Thomas Powers. "Intelligence Wars: American Secret History from Hitler to al Qaeda"

W. G. Sebald. "On the Natural History of Destruction" Hamish Hamilton/Random House

Robert L. Snow. "Terrorists Among Us" Perseus.

Sampie Terreblanche. "A History of Inequality in South Africa 1652-2002" University of Natal Press

Fareed Zakaria "The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad" Norton.

FEATURE ARTICLE: Serbia: A Study of Regime Change and Democracy

Assassination in the Balkans has a long and colorful history. Three of its ten kings were killed and four others deposed. Most famous -- the shot truly heard around the world -- was the 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand at the hands of the Black Hand anarcho-terrorists that precipitated the First World War. By the end of a Second World War, Serbia was under the iron hand of Tito, as part of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.

Yugoslavia was a federation of southern Balkan countries that incorporated Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia, with a substantial Albanian minority. Ethnic tensions were tightly controlled until the rise of Serbian nationalism, nearly ten years after Tito's 1980 death, under the leadership of Slobodan Milosevic. Devastating wars followed throughout the 1990s, culminating in a 1998 revolt against Serbian rule by the Kosovo Liberation Army. Facing mounting violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity, NATO intervened in March 1999.

With NATO's intervention, the path was clear: hold elections, establish democracy, and move on. Elections were held in September 2000. President Milosevic banned international observers even as the opposition leader Kostunica declared victory. Saying there was no outright majority for either candidate, the election commission said there should be a second vote, then decided to annul the election and have Milosevic serve out his term. Massive demonstrations took place and opposition supporters captured state buildings, including the parliament and television service in October 2000. Kostunica was recognized internationally as the new president of Yugoslavia. In December, the reformist alliance won a landslide parliamentary victory and Zoran Djindjic became the Prime Minister.

Milosevic, responsible for Serbian massacres in Kosovo and other atrocities, was arrested in April 2001 and charged with misappropriation of state funds and abuse of his position. He was also wanted by the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague. US President Bush told Serbia that aid to Yugoslavia was dependent on Milosevic's extradition. Faced with this financial sword of Damocles, Djindjic overruled the Yugoslav constitutional court and the wishes of President Kostunica to try Milosevic in Yugoslavia, and sent Milosevic to The Hague. (Details of the progress of his trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity have been provided in the "Law and legal Issues" section of this newsletter.)

The successful regime change was complete.

However, that's not the end of the story. From the hopes of October 2000 when Milosevic was overthrown, to the reality of today's Serbia roiling under a state of emergency lies a grim reminder of the limitations of "regime change".

While the extradition of Milosevic and troubled relations with the international tribunal and its performance opened political rifts among the reform coalition, these merely illustrated the underlying vacuum. The Balkans face a society without a democratic tradition, continued ethnic strife and economic hardship, and a rule not of law but of criminal gangs. If this sounds familiar, it should: these are the same problems facing the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, and a host of other areas.

Let's look at the challenges facing Serbia (no longer Yugoslavia, but now the senior partner in the new state of Serbia and Montenegro).

Democracy:
The parliament of the new union of Serbia and Montenegro elected Svetozvar Marovic as President earlier this month. He was the only candidate. Presidential seats for each of Serbia and Montenegro remain vacant, as they have been unable to achieve a threshold of 50 percent voter turnout. In the meantime, the respective heads of parliament are acting presidents. Given their inability to attract voters to go to the polls, it is likely that the voting threshold will need to be lowered or removed.

Ethnic strife and the Economy:
Usually, these are two issues, but economic aid has been tied to cooperation regarding sanctions and the war crimes tribunal. The situation is further complicated by the interactions with other former Yugoslav states. For example, Croatia has blocked settlement and distribution of assets to all the successor states because it has still not ratified the 2001 treaty settling the succession issues. Furthermore, the resolution of the status of Kosovo and resolution of the inter-ethnic issues in Bosnia-Herzegovina continue to depend on international assistance.

Prime Minister Djindjic fully cooperated with western demands for economic reform. Laws were changed to allow the sale of state assets to private owners. This was good business for international banks and western multinationals, but provided little economic help for Serbs. Following these economic reforms, prices have risen, unemployment is over 30 percent, wages have fallen and over two-thirds of Serbs are living below the poverty line. In addition, scores of people have been arrested and extradited to The Hague, rather than being tried under Serbian law.

Rule of Law:
The UN lifted the arms embargoes in September 2001. It was scarcely necessary given the thriving black market. In addition to arms, the Balkans hosts a thriving international trade in narcotics and people. This black market has served not only to arm criminals but also to generate funds for the military, police, and favored officials. It is believed that significant arms sales have been to international terrorist organizations.

One of the most powerful criminal gangs is the Zemun Clan, led by warlord and gangster Milorad Lukovic. Lukovic, also known as "Legija", was a paramilitary police officer under Milosevic who later carried out Djindjic's order to arrest Milosevic. Zemun Clan is allegedly involved in drugs trafficking, kidnapping and bombings. They are accused of more than 50 murders, including the kidnapping and murder of former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic, the attempted assassinations of opposition leader Vuk Draskovic and Prime Minister Djindjic, and the actual assassination of Djindjic on March 12.

Although Zemun Clan may have got to him first the trigger that killed Prime Minister Djindjic could have been pulled just as easily by others. It could have been insiders (like Lukovic) wanting to maintain their positions and criminal connections, war crimes suspects evading extradition, paramilitaries wanting to seed disorder and fear, or Serbian nationalists opposed to his willing cooperation with the west.

As this illustrates, stability in the Balkans in far from certain. While democracy may be within reach at some point, there is a great deal of work to be accomplished. This must begin with security, not defined as cooperation in the "war on terrorism" or in connection with police actions, but as a stable and self-sustaining society. This will only happen when political and economic reforms pave the way for a stable and prosperous society that offers an appealing alternative to organized crime and paramilitaries. In the meantime, we should not forget the lessons of Balkan history of distrust and violence, nor the international repercussions, including support for terrorism, that follow weak and failed states. Democracy is built through construction, not war.

HOW TO CONTACT US:

Please contact us with your questions or comments by sending email to .

We look forward to hearing from you.
Editorial Team
TerrorismCentral
All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2003 by TerrorismCentral.